Pisaster

Pisaster (from Greek πίσος, "pea", and ἀστήρ, "star"[1]) is a genus of Pacific sea stars that includes three species, P. brevispinus, P. giganteus, and P. ochraceus. Their range extends along the Pacific coast from Alaska to southern California in the intertidal zone. The largest individuals of Pisaster can reach diameters of up to 70 cm (28 in) across; they all develop five arms, but some may be lost from injury or disease, and occasionally the re-growth of an injured arm will result in an individual with more than five arms.

Pisaster
P. brevispinus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Echinodermata
Class:
Asteroidea
Order:
Forcipulatida
Family:
Asteriidae
Genus:
Pisaster

Müller and Troschel, 1840
Ochre Sea Star at low tide, Saltspring Island, British Columbia

Sea stars in the genus Pisaster are all predators; the ochre sea star is the best-characterized of these, and is considered a "keystone" predator that controls the relative abundance of many other species in the ecosystem.

Species

References
  1. Cleveland P. Hickman et al., Integrated Principles of Zoology (St. Louis: Times Mirror / Mosby College Pub., 1984), p. 469.


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